Unit 293 District 293 (Region 2)
High Continental Divide timber and Nevada Creek ranch country south of Lincoln
Continental Divide — Nevada Creek, Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
445
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–8,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 293 ("South Lincoln–Nevada Creek") runs the Continental Divide spine between Rogers Pass and MacDonald Pass in Powell and Lewis & Clark Counties, then west and north across the Nevada Creek and upper Little Blackfoot ranch country toward Avon and Helmville. It's Helena–Lewis & Clark National Forest high country over BLM, DNRC state trust and big private ranch. Elk are the headline here in the Divide timber, backed by mule deer on the breaks and whitetails in the creek bottoms. The district's north edge butts up against the Lincoln area, placing it firmly in occupied grizzly range.
Terrain
Timbered Continental Divide ridges and peaks stepping down through foothill benches to the broad Nevada Creek and upper Little Blackfoot valley floors.
Cover: Irrigated hay and grass valleys low; sage-grass and Douglas-fir foothill benches; lodgepole, spruce and subalpine fir on the Divide slopes with open bunchgrass parks near the crest; willow and cottonwood along Nevada Creek and the Little Blackfoot.
Landmarks: Continental Divide crest · Rogers Pass · MacDonald Pass (US-12) · Nevada Creek and Nevada Lake · Nevada Mountain · Dalton Mountain / Herrin Lakes country
Access
The Continental Divide high country is largely public Helena–Lewis & Clark National Forest, with good forest-road and trail access off US-12 at MacDonald Pass and from the Lincoln side. The valley floors and lower benches — the Nevada Creek and Little Blackfoot ranch ground — are private and interlocked with BLM/DNRC sections. Block Management opens some of that private valley acreage each fall; check the current Region 2 BMA list. Use ownership mapping to work the public-forest-to-private transition legally.
Managers: USFS Helena–Lewis & Clark NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: MacDonald Pass / US-12 forest roads onto the Divide · Rogers Pass area (State Route 200) · Dalton Mountain Road and Herrin Lakes Road · Nevada Creek / Ogden Mountain Road (USFS 1163)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are the marquee species, using the Continental Divide timber and high parks and dropping toward the Nevada Creek benches with weather and pressure. Strong public-forest access on the Divide makes this a genuine general-tag elk district for the hunter willing to climb.
- →Hunt the timbered Divide benches and pocket parks away from roads
- →Glass high grassy parks and burns at first and last light
- →Push the security timber between public forest and the private ranches elk flee to under pressure
- →Let early snow drive elk off the crest toward accessible mid-elevation timber
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer hold the foothill breaks, sage benches and Divide edges. General-tag opportunity, with better bucks in the higher, less-pressured country near the crest.
- →Glass open benches and coulees at dawn, then still-hunt timber edges
- →Climb toward the Divide parks for bucks that dodge road pressure
- →Time a cold front — snow moves bucks down onto the lower benches
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails work the Nevada Creek and Little Blackfoot bottoms, willows and hayfield edges. Good general-tag deer hunting where you can get access to the private valley ground.
- →Sit funnels between bedding cover and hay feed at first and last light
- →Hunt the November rut in the creek-bottom willows and cottonwoods
- →Line up a BMA or permission for the private valley bottoms
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and wet drainages of the Nevada Creek and upper Little Blackfoot systems — a coveted limited-draw special-permit prospect.
- →Glass willow complexes, beaver ponds and wet meadows morning and evening
- →Scout riparian pockets pre-season to locate resident bulls
- →Still-hunt streamside cover slowly and quietly
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears roam the Divide timber and creek drainages, concentrating on spring green-up and fall berries. A solid secondary tag — but the district's Lincoln-side ground is occupied grizzly range, so certain identification is required.
- →Glass green south slopes and old burns in spring
- →Focus berry-rich draws and timber edges in fall
- →Verify species beyond doubt before any shot — grizzlies are present
Pro tips
- →Elk-first district — put boots on the public Divide timber off MacDonald Pass
- →Let early snow do the work, moving elk and deer down toward accessible ground
- →Block Management unlocks the private Nevada Creek valley bottoms — check the current list
- →Carry bear spray and know grizzly ID on the Lincoln-side north end
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly range on the north/Lincoln edge — carry spray and verify bear ID
- !Private valley bottoms; don't assume Nevada Creek ranch ground is open
- !High Divide roads ice, drift and turn to gumbo — watch the weather and carry chains
- !Hard early cold and snow at Divide elevations
Logistics
Helena (over MacDonald Pass on US-12) is the nearest full-service hub for gear, tags, fuel and lodging; Avon, Elliston and Helmville are small crossroads for last-mile access, and Lincoln serves the north end. Expect gravel forest and ranch roads for the final approach, and carry chains for high Divide roads late in the season.
Nearest towns: Avon, Helmville, Elliston, Lincoln, Helena
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2024/2025 Deer/Elk Hunting District Legal Descriptions (HD 293 South Lincoln–Nevada Creek) · MTFWP Destination: Western Montana (Region 2)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 293 in Montana?
- Unit 293 (District 293 (Region 2)) covers about 445 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 8,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 293?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Helena–Lewis & Clark NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 293?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Moose, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 293 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.